How to calculate my ETA?

I get what y’all are saying. If it’s a 700 mile trip.

I base it off 50mph so it’s 14 hours of drive time. Add in a 10 hour break and it’s 24 hours. Give an extra hour for traffic and it’s 25 hours from when I start. Can add in a 30 minute break or 20 minute fueling etc.

what’s confusing me is I don’t know how to factor in if I’m not starting from a fresh clock. What happens if I only have 3 hours of drive time left for the day after I pick up from the shipper. Is all that calculated into the above formula i did in the beginning of the post or am I missing something?

 

Still going to take you X amount of hours from "now." So with a calculated 24 hours of drive/rest time. It doesn't matter how much is done on day 1 or day 2. If "now" is noon. You'll be there tomorrow at noon.

 

The standard used for years has been 47 or 48 mph. Nothing more.

This accounts for any delays along a normal driving route during a typical day.

I used 47mph only and have had brokers and agents alike tell me I'm full of ******, but I've been proven many times that the number works.

Just this past Friday coming out of Delaware going to Roanoke the agent told my driver the time he is going to allow him to make it, it was figured at 55mph, my driver said that's not going to work and recalculated it at 47mph. After a quick "discussion" the agent relented, and the driver got the load and took it to Roanoke. He made it there on time doing the "speed limit" using the 47mph after three accidents and other delays beyond his control.

 

I use my truck GPS ‘time of arrival. Then add my 1/2 hrs breaks and 10 hr break and then add an hour or two depending on location of travel for traffic and such…. A little more if there are mountains…

 

I agree that you should never use the Google Maps ETA as given. But it’s a useful tool, because it accounts for current traffic conditions, road construction, current detours, etc. I just take it and add a half hour for every four hours given.

 

Always used tge 50 mph formula.

 

5am

 

It doesn't really change your eta, but it does change how many hours you'll have available once you're ready for the next load.

Calculating your eta isn't a one and done thing. Every time you stop, refigure your eta and availability and let your dispatcher know if it's changed by more than than 30 minutes.

 

I can't scream this loud enough! You can't just figure an eta and stop! Doing this all the time can finally lead to a situation where you are at a final with little to no clock left. Trip planning is not that easy for a new driver. It's a lot more than doing some math based on an MPH and distance. If your dispatch is wanting an ETA so they can get you going with a load they also need to know what your clock is looking like. PLEASE people think about the whole picture NOT just the travel time. One place I used to always hate going to was south Florida and have a late afternoon or later delivery appointment.

 

My above comment ^^^^^ I just got a rather terse private message about it. I will address that here in the open. If I took the time to search I bet I could find at least 10 or more HOS questions about using PC etc when at a final and being directed to leave. In almost every question there is a VERY RIGHT comment about learning how to trip plan. Giving your carrier an unrealistic ETA in some situations can lead to a nightmare situation in regard to HOS at that final. This is why I am constantly preaching about using your clocks better. Don't allow yourself to get in these situations all the time. Trust me on this! You start making a habit of busting clocks at some point you ARE going to get that dreaded message to go have a chat with safety!